Description
Object description
British civilian musician with Entertainments National Service Association in GB, Algeria, Italy and Middle East, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1916-1939: family; early interest in music; education; attending Guildhall School of Music; visit to Germany, 1938; visit to Hungary, 8/1939; rapid return to GB, 8/1939. Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 1939-1942: work with evacuees in Addlestone area; joining small concert party, autumn 1940; other performers with concert party; various concerts given. Recollections of period as musician with Entertainments National Service Association in GB, Algeria, Italy and Middle East, 1942-1945: audition for organisation; assignment in Manchester; living conditions.
REEL 2 Continues: giving concerts to factory workers in Manchester area; changes in performers in concert party; route of concert party around GB; playing in Hebrides; pay; rations; volunteering for overseas service; joining group led by Morgan and Dilys Lloyd; rehearsals in London, late 1943; loss of suitcase; voyage in troopship from GB to Algiers, Algeria.
REEL 3 Continues: arrival in Algiers, Algeria, 1944; performance in concert starring Tommy Trinder and Joyce Grenfell; clothes provided for performances; props and stage makeup; lack of uniform; accommodation in brothel in Bone, Algeria; concert programme; move to Malta; issue of uniform; sight of devastation in Malta; concert venues; move to Italy; concerts in Sicily and southern Italy; sight of devastation at Monte Cassino, Italy; conditions in opera house at Foggia; meeting with pianist Myers Foggin and David Ffrangcon Thomas; David Ffrangcon Thomas work for Special Operations Executive.
REEL 4 Continues: playing concert for David Ffrangcon Thomas Special Operations Executive group in Monopoli, Italy; attitude towards leave in Rome, Italy; arrival in Florence, Italy shortly after liberation; move to Ancona, Italy; accommodation in brothel; memories of Sir John Barbirolli; move to Egypt; touring Paiforce in Iraq and Iran; state of health in Middle East; story of occasion when coach broke down.
REEL 5 Continues: hearing of end of war, 5/1945; touring through Jordan and Palestine; return to GB, 8/1945; leaving ENSA; attitude towards service with ENSA; role of ENSA; organisation of ENSA; story of wartime romance thwarted by her mother; post-war musical career.